An earache can have many different causes, some more severe than others. If your earache keeps coming back or if it extremely painful to the point where you can’t concentrate on anything else, it’s wise to pay your doctor a visit. That being said, here are a few things you can try at home.

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Steps

Method 1 of 2: Home Remedies

1

Apply heat. This can be done through a number of ways. However you choose to do it, heat can numb the pain. Just be careful not to burn yourself!

Hold a blow dryer (on the low setting) about ten inches away from your ear. The fluid in your ears will move around more easily when exposed to the temperature change.[1]

Soak a washcloth in warm water, wring it out, and hold it pressed against your ear for 20 minutes. Repeat if the pain returns.

Use the old 'heating-pad-against-your-ear' for a continuous, easy heat blast.

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2

Take Tylenol or Ibuprofen. This is a general painkiller that will not make the actual Earache go away, but will make the pain subside. And within minutes, too.

If the pain is severe and doesn't subside with a pill or two, go to your doctor. If you have other symptoms as well (like fever or dizziness), go see your doctor immediately.

Try Auralgan, a local anesthetic that can be applied directly to the ear canal. Auralgan can be found at any major drugstore or pharmacy. It can also be bought online.

3

Use olive or baby oil. Though it may sound strange, olive or baby oil can be a useful substitute for ear drops. They are lubricating and can ease your pain.

Heat it up until it's warm but not hot and drop 3 or 4 drops into the affected ear canal. Let it soak in for about half an hour, and then lay down so it can drain out. The pain should subside quickly.[1]

Infuse it with a bit of cinnamon if you have it available. Garlic oil works, too, apparently. In fact...[2]

4

Get creative with garlic. Just about everything garlic-y is believed by someone to help with earaches. If you have it any form, consider using it. Here are some established methods:

Apply a few drops of straight garlic juice into the affected ear.

Warm up some sesame oil with a clove of garlic. After the garlic has infused into the oil, apply that to your ear.

Break a clove of garlic in half, putting one in your ear and one in a cup of steaming hot water. Position your ear above the cup, having the garlic steam pass through the garlic and into your hurting ear.[3]

5

Use up the rest of that onion in the fridge. Another vegetable to the rescue! Cut up the onion, crush it, and wrap it tightly in a clean, thin cloth. Lay on your side, holding the wrap over your ear.[4]

If you have ginger on hand and not onion, use the same process -- the same principles apply.[4]

6

Try basil or peppermint. These are truly herbal remedies. For both, you need to extract the juices. This involves crushing them up and exposing them to a bit of heat. However, the peppermint oil should be applied around the ear, while the basil juice can be applied in the ear.[4]

7

Chew gum and yawn. If there's a chance your Earache is due to a change in altitude, considering popping in some gum or forcing yawning. Your ears will pop and you'll almost automatically feel better.

You can also try swallowing hard. The muscle that activates the eustachian tube will open, relieving the pressure.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology suggests this method for beating this airplane side effect: Close your mouth and hold your nostrils and your unaffected ear closed with your fingers. Then, try to blow out through your nostrils, forcing the ear to pop. However, if your Earache is the source of a cold or other infection, don't do this -- it could spread your infection.[5]

8

Use aromatherapy. Though it may sound a bit hooky, some people swear by it. Dilute an essential oil (like lavender oil) in a bit of olive oil and rub it on the outside of the affected ear and down the neck around the lymph nodes.[6] Worth a shot?

If your earache is at all debilitating, aromatherapy is not the way to go. Your doctor will provide you with medicines that will work a lot quicker than scents will.

9

If you have colloidal silver available, combine it with your oils. 500 parts per million colloidal silver is best. Use just 1 drop of essential oils for every 15-20 drops of colloidal silver. It may seem like the essential oil is useless at this ratio, but it's needed for efficacy.[7]

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Method 2 of 2: Through Your Doctor

1

Get antibiotics. If it just won't go away on its own, or if it's accompanied by other symptoms or you're just flat out in a great deal of pain, see your doctor. S/He can get you on antibiotics immediately.

Penicillin may not take effect for a few days. Ask your doctor if he/she thinks this will be the case for you and what remedies you can try to make the pain go away.

2

Determine if it's due to mucus build up. Coughing and blowing your nose can irritate the inner ear, ultimately ending in an Earache. If you have other cold symptoms, this could be your culprit.

Your doctor may recommend a decongestant or a nasal spray. The mucus production will stop, alleviating the Earache, though you may have to accompany it with ibuprofen, at least at the beginning.[2]

3

Know if earwax is the cause. Though it's there for your benefit, too much can lead to ear aches. If earwax is the issue, your doctor will be able to take care of it for you.

S/He will recommend medicated ear drops to alleviate the pain and earwax build up. S/He should also advise you on how to keep future ear aches at bay.

If your earwax has hardened and is in clumps, your doctor may extract it manually. Probably not your first bet, but it can solve the problem.

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